If you’ve ever been to a party that ends with someone passed out on the roof and a broken drum kit in the pool, you already get the vibe of Miller’s Garage. Authenticity is Strawberry Fuzz’s specialty, and they stay true to the roots of alternative Venice culture. The album is full of energy, humor, and raw emotion. It captures the feeling of sweaty shows, busted amps, in your friend’s backyard. It’s chaotic, unfiltered, and completely alive.

“Way Too Fast” might be one the most gripping openers for an album I’ve ever heard. I made the mistake of having my headphones on at nearly full volume. Rodger’s scream felt like a kick in the nuts. It’s an opener that immediately shows you the band’s ethos. It’s like biting an electric fence and forgetting how to let go.

There’s a deep sense that this album was made only for the band. Almost like only a special group of friends get to listen in on it. Only for the crew living their lives in Venice Beach. The record embraces the weird, scrappy, and sun-faded identity of that place. But somehow, we’re lucky enough to let in on the secret.

“Dopamine” keeps the charge going but adds just enough structure to show they’re both talented musicians, as well as songwriters. It’s a track that begs to be experienced live. If you’re low on dopamine, just hit play.

Strawberry Fuzz may have the reputation of being a loud garage band, but Miller’s Garage shows there’s more going on. They bend genres and inject texture in surprising ways. “Green Room” slips in snippets of party chatter under thick, fuzzy riffs, playing like a tape loop of bad, late-night decisions. “Bad Dreams” eases into a more introspective mood with the line, “I want a house in the country so I can be alone,” tapping into the burnout and isolation of life in LA. The album’s pacing is just as thoughtful. It comes out hot, then pulls back. Later tracks like “Look My Way” are hazy and gorgeous — a slow-burn psych jam with drifting vocals and an aching, almost haunting, guitar solo. It sounds like someone crying on the beach at 6 a.m., and it works beautifully.

Miller’s Garage is also laced with humor. Like “Tour Song,” which recounts van-life chaos. Playing out like a drunk group chat — someone’s puking, the van’s out of gas, and they’re late to soundcheck. It’s a perfect closing track and feels like a coming-of-age movie montage. I found a lot of joy in this record. It’s wild, scrappy, and heartfelt. A debut that proves Strawberry Fuzz has something real to offer. Fans of  Turnstile, and Fontaines D.C. add Miller’s Garage to your rotation.

order Miller’s Garage by Strawberry Fuzz HERE